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This guidance material is intended for operators of QCAA registered aircraft flying within the State of Qatar, to be aware of entry into a force of Ramp Inspection Programs that deals with The Safety Assessment of National Aircraft (SANA).

INTRODUCTION

The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) has begun performing ramp inspection on aircraft registered within the State of Qatar.During such a ramp inspection, the compliance with applicable international safety standards (ICAO) will be assessed.

This ramp inspection program is part of another oversight function dealing with the Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA).Trained inspectors who carry out SAFA inspections will also carry out SANA inspections.

LEGAL BASIS

The Administrative Order A.O. OPS 01 of 2012 set into force the creation of the State of Qatar’s Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft ramp inspection program.

Civil Aviation Law 15, Chapter 3, Article 14: Power to Inspect provide for The Authorities capability to inspect aircraft registered in the State of Qatar.Furthermore qualified inspectors who conduct ramp inspections under the SANA program have the authority to ground. Any aircraft under the provisions of Civil Aviation Law15.

Furthermore; the SANA program will enhance the oversight requirements of QCAR OPS-2 and QCAR OPS-3.

The SANA Ramp Inspectors will choose which aircraft to inspect. Besides their obligation that aircraft being suspected of noncompliance with the international safety standards shall be inspected, the ramp inspection teams shall carry out random inspections.All State registered aircraft operating in the State of Qatar are subject to this program.

WHAT IS CHECKED?

All items are referenced against ICAO Annex 6, Part I as applicable and Part II and Annex 8. This program extends to all aircraft, even those under 5700 Kg in weight.

A checklist of 54 inspection items is used during a SANA ramp inspection.It is a SANA policy not to delay an aircraft except for safety reasons. Due to time factors,It may not be sufficient time to go through a full 54 item checklist.Therefore not all items may be inspected.Checks may include:

Licenses of pilots.

Procedures and manuals that should be carried in the cockpit.

Compliance with the procedures by flight or cabin crew (if applicable)

Safety equipment in cockpit and cabin.

Cargo carried in the aircraft.

The technical condition of the aircraft.

Inspections carried out by the SANA ramp inspection team shall follow common procedures and these are then reported by entering them into a centralized SANA database.It has to be stressed that SANA inspections are limited to on the spot assessments and cannot substitute for proper regulatory oversight and therefore they cannot guarantee the airworthiness of a particular aircraft.

FINDINGS AND FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS

The noncompliance found during an inspection is called a “finding”.Such findings are categorized according to the magnitude of the deviation of the requirements and to the influence on safety of the noncompliance.

Minor deviations (Category 1) are reported to the Pilot in Command.If an inspection identifies one or more significant deviations from the safety standards (Category 2), these will also be reported to the operator and the QCAA.Where non-compliances have a major impact on safety (Category 3), the flight crew is in addition expected to correct such non-compliances before the aircraft departs by either correcting the deficiency or by imposing restrictions on the aircraft operations.In remote cases, it may be necessary to ground the aircraft if the ramp inspectors feel that the flight is a hazard to air safety.

FOLLOW-UP PROCESS

The stakeholders involved in the SANA process are the State of Qatar (QCAA), the operator and owner of the aircraft.These entities play a key role in the follow-up process after an inspection is conducted:

The SANA Inspector debriefs the Pilot in Command and hands over the Proof of Inspection Form.

The SANA Inspector requests the Pilot in Command to sign a copy of the Proof of Inspection Form.

In case of Category 2 and/or 3 findings, a written communication will be sent to the operator/owner and the Competent Authority overseeing the operator.

The operator is requested to reply to the written communication with an action plan which addresses the deficiencies.

The Competent Authority ensuring the oversight of the operator (and/or the airworthiness of the aircraft) may be asked to confirm their agreement on the corrective actions taken.

Subsequent inspections by SANA inspectors may occur to verify rectification of the deficiencies.

DATABASE ANALYSIS

All reported data is stored centrally in a computerized database set up and managed by the SAFA program.The database also hold supplementary information, such as lists of actions carried out following inspections, which revealed non-compliances. The information held within this database is reviewed and analysed by the SAFA Program Coordinator on a regular basis. The Chairman of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority is informed about the results of the analysis and is advised on any identified potential safety hazards.

CONTACT INFORMATION

The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the performance of the inspections.In case of any questions resulting from an inspection, one should contact the QCAA directly at: